Beginner · 26.2 miles
16-Week Beginner Marathon Training Plan
The marathon (26.2 miles, or 42.2 km) is the ultimate endurance test. This free marathon training plan progressively builds weekly mileage and long runs while respecting the 10% rule and recovery weeks, so you develop the durability to cover 26.2 without breaking down. Quality sessions sharpen marathon pace; a structured taper leaves you fresh for race day.
- Weeks
- 16
- Days / wk
- 3
- Peak / wk
- 36 km
Who this plan is for
New to structured training or coming back after time off. Comfortable running or run/walking a few times a week.
Beginner plans keep every run effort-based and conversational, with a longer aerobic base, no hard intervals, and a gentle build so you get to the start line healthy. The focus is consistency and confidence, not punishing speed work.
What you'll work on
- ✓ Progressively build weekly volume and long-run endurance
- ✓ Develop marathon pace with race-specific workouts
- ✓ Protect against injury with recovery weeks and the 10% rule
- ✓ Taper intelligently to arrive on the start line fresh
Your training paces
Kanni anchors these paces to your fitness. The paces below are what this plan prescribes for a typical beginner runner — in the app they're personalized to your own recent races and runs.
| Recovery | 8:59/km |
|---|---|
| Easy / aerobic | 8:19/km |
| Long run | 8:34/km |
Week-by-week schedule
The full 16-week plan, from base building to race-week taper. Tap any week to expand it.
Base
Week 1 3 runs
· 13 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 2 3 runs
· 15 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 3 3 runs
· 16 km
Easy run + 6x20s strides - mechanics and leg speed
- Warm-up 2.3 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 2.8 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 4 3 runs
· 12 km
Recovery jog - keep it super easy
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 5 3 runs
· 18 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 6 3 runs
· 20 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Base
Week 7 3 runs
· 22 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Build
Week 8 3 runs
· 18 km
Recovery jog - keep it super easy
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Build
Week 9 3 runs
· 22 km
Easy run + 6x20s strides - mechanics and leg speed
- Warm-up 2.0 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 2.3 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Build
Week 10 3 runs
· 26 km
Easy run + 6x20s strides - mechanics and leg speed
- Warm-up 2.1 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 2.6 km
Pre-long-run recovery jog - absorb the week before the key endurance day
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Build
Week 11 3 runs
· 29 km
Light fartlek - relaxed pickups, no hard interval load
- Warm-up 1.5 km
- 6x2min moderate fartlek @ 6:59/km, 120s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 1.5 km
Pre-long-run recovery jog - absorb the week before the key endurance day
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Build
Week 12 3 runs
· 24 km
Recovery jog - keep it super easy
Easy run - conversational pace
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Peak
Week 13 3 runs
· 33 km
Light fartlek - relaxed pickups, no hard interval load
- Warm-up 1.5 km
- 6x2min moderate fartlek @ 6:59/km, 120s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 1.5 km
Pre-long-run recovery jog - absorb the week before the key endurance day
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Peak
Week 14 3 runs
· 36 km
Easy run + 6x20s strides - mechanics and leg speed
- Warm-up 2.7 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 3.3 km
Pre-long-run recovery jog - absorb the week before the key endurance day
Long run - build endurance at conversational pace
Taper
Week 15 3 runs
· 21 km
Easy run + short strides - stay sharp without fatigue
- Warm-up 2.0 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 2.0 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Taper long run - relaxed aerobic rhythm, finish fresh
Taper
Week 16 3 runs
· 13 km
Easy run + short strides - stay sharp without fatigue
- Warm-up 2.0 km
- 6x20s strides @ 6:09/km, 80s slow jog rest
- Cool-down 2.0 km
Easy run - conversational pace
Taper long run - relaxed aerobic rhythm, finish fresh
How this plan is built
- ◆ Determined plan length: 16 weeks (default for goal).
- ◆ Starting weekly volume: 15.0 km. Target peak weekly volume: 39.0 km.
- ◆ Periodization: 7 base, 5 build, 2 peak, 2 taper week(s); recovery weeks every 4 weeks.
- ◆ Weekly volume progression respects the 10% rule (cap +10% per week, +8 km absolute).
- ◆ Training days: 2, 4, 6. Long run scheduled on day 6.
- ◆ Pace zones anchored to VDOT 28.5 (Daniels intensities) with goal race pace 7:09/km.
- ◆ Long runs capped by recent history: longest run in the last 30 days 6.0 km; weekly long-run growth ≤ 10%.
- ◆ Assembled 48 sessions across 16 weeks; max 2 hard session(s) per week, no back-to-back hard days.
- ◆ Session selection tuned for beginner runner: effort-based running only — strides and light fartlek, no hard intervals.
Marathon training plan FAQs
How long is this marathon training plan? +
This beginner marathon plan is built by Kanni's training engine and covers the full block from base building through a race-week taper. Each week schedules the right mix of easy runs, long runs, and — where appropriate for your level — quality sessions.
Is this marathon plan really free? +
Yes. You can follow the entire marathon plan for free right here on the web. Download the Kanni app to sync it to your iPhone and Apple Watch, track your runs against it, and get an AI coach that adapts the plan as you progress.
How many days a week will I run? +
This plan schedules runs on the days that best fit a beginner runner. You can generate a version with a different number of days a week using the plan builder — pick the schedule that fits your life and Kanni handles the rest.
What if I miss a run or the plan feels too hard? +
Missing the occasional run won't derail you — consistency over weeks matters more than any single session. In the Kanni app, your AI coach can adjust upcoming workouts based on how training is actually going, so the plan stays realistic.
Explore more plans
Train smarter with an AI coach
Sync this plan to your iPhone and Apple Watch. Kanni tracks every run, adapts the plan to your progress, and coaches you to the finish line.